Duluth, MN – The bases were loaded for Duluth. It was the bottom of the fifth with two outs and the Rox were in danger of letting the 2-0 lead slip away. Outfielder Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) was up against a deep fly ball towards center field. He took two steps in and then rushed back in anticipation of tracking down the ball. Ramirez went airborne and made a diving catch to preserve the 2-0 lead after five innings.

St. Cloud’s (4-4) offense ignited after the catch and shutout Duluth (4-4) for the second straight night 14-0 at Wade Stadium. The Rox posted a season high 18 hits. The 14 runs are the most in a game since May 28, 2015 against Green Bay (14-11 win). This is the fourth consecutive win for the Rox.

For the first time this season, the lead off hitter for the Rox in the first inning did not reach base. However, that did not stop St. Cloud from putting pressure on the opposition early on. Denis Karas (California) worked a one out walk. Luke Ringhofer (South Dakota State) hit a sky-high fly ball to center field and outfielder Zach Orchard dropped the ball out of his web. St. Cloud jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

The bats came to life even more in the fifth inning. Ramirez and Karas both were back at and led off the frame with two singles. Ben Petersen (North Dakota State) cracked a single to left field and that score Karas (Ramirez was thrown on a play prior to this). Rox took a 2-0 lead after five innings.

The Rox erupted in the 7^th and 8^th innings. Mark Skonieczny (Illinois) blasted a grand slam over the left field wall in the 7^th frame with two outs. Then, Brandon Benson (Georgia College) continued the hot hitting in the 8^th with a two-run double. This was part of a 5-run 8^th inning (most runs scored in an inning this season).

Austin Dubsky (Murray State) earned the win after a strong performance (6 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K). Marcus Frederickson was tagged with the loss (4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB). Aaron Rozek (Minnesota State-Mankato) slammed the door with 3 innings of no-hit baseball. Duluth did not have a hit in the last 4 innings.

The Rox are back in action Wednesday evening and they will face the Eau Claire Express for the first time this season. First pitched is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT. The Rox Solid Pregame Warmup starts at 6:05 p.m. CT.

Tonight’s St. Cloud Times Player of the Game is CF Ricky Ramirez. Ricky made a spectacular leaping catch to strand three Duluth base runners in the 5^th inning. For more coverage of the Rox during the 2016 season visit www.sctimes.com.

For more stats and information about today’s game, here is the boxscore:

http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316676

Single game tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at www.stcloudrox.com, by calling (320) 240-9798 or by visiting the Rox ticket office located at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23^rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest summer collegiate baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com.